NHK WORLD-Japan programme focus for November: Hokkaido

1 November 2024

NHK WORLD-Japan programme focus for November: Hokkaido

Hokkaido: Finding warmth in Japan’s northern wonderland

Hit the Road: Hokkaido Nov 13 Wed. 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) Take a scenic drive through Eastern Hokkaido and discover two milks: creamy cow’s milk from the land and fresh oysters, known as “milk of the sea.”
Remote Onsen: Hokkaido in Summer Nov 2 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Hokkaido summers are short, but you can soak in hot springs hidden in the wild, marvel at the views from onsen in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit an area with an abundant variety of waters.
Journeys in Japan – Sapporo: Ski Mountaineering Tradition Nov 12 Tue. 0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC) In Hokkaido Prefecture, the sport of ski mountaineering has a long history. Making your way up into the mountains is possible when you have skis. Climbing through the deep snow requires skill, experience and thorough preparation. But the ascent is fun and heading down is even more so. In Japan, the first place where ski mountaineering began was the Academic Alpine Club of Hokkaido, which is part of Hokkaido University. The students here have been skiing for over 100 years. Cveto Podlogar is a licensed international mountain guide from Slovenia. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Cveto heads out into the mountains with the Alpine Club for a training session, to get a taste of their ski mountaineering tradition.

BBC World Service English announces new rebroadcasting partnership in The Bahamas

24 October 2024

BBC World Service English announces new rebroadcasting partnership in The Bahamas

Guardian Media Group will rebroadcast BBC World Service English radio in The Bahamas

BBC World Service English has partnered with the Guardian Media Group to bring our factual programming, impartial news reports and analysis to audiences in The Bahamas.

Guardian Media Group is the leading local multimedia group in The Bahamas.

BBC World Service English radio will be received digitally, and broadcast live on Guardian Radio FM 96.9 when not in local programming.

Fred Durman, BBC’s Head of Business Development for the Americas and Europe, says: “The BBC is delighted to strengthen its presence in The Bahamas through this dynamic rebroadcasting partnership with Guardian Media Group. This collaboration underscores our dedication to informing, educating, and entertaining audiences worldwide.

“By delivering trusted news, insightful storytelling, and a rich array of diverse programming, we aim to foster deeper connections and promote shared understanding across communities. This initiative not only extends our global reach but also ensures that Bahamian residents have access to high-quality journalism and content that reflects a variety of voices and perspectives from around the world.”

Dwight Strachan, Guardian Radio Station Manager, says: “Guardian Radio – The Bahamas’ number one source for talk and radio news – is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the legendary BBC World Service. We will offer BBC programming to our listeners when we’ve completed our regular programming overnight and on Sunday.

“This will further demonstrate to our listeners our commitment to providing credible news from all over the globe, and from one of the world’s most trusted news sources. Without a doubt, Guardian Radio with the BBC World Service will make for round-the-clock-radio – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week”.

[Source: BBC press release]

IBAB Approves Jeffrey Gedmin as President and CEO of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks

23 October 2024

IBAB Approves Jeffrey Gedmin as President and CEO of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks

The International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB) – which provides oversight and strategic guidance to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) – unanimously authorized the board of Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) to name Jeffrey Gedmin as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Gedmin has served as MBN’s Acting President and CEO since April 2024.

“We are elated to pave the way for Jeff’s continued leadership at MBN,” said IBAB Chair Kenneth Jarin. “His vast experience and tremendous wealth of knowledge make clear that he is the right person to lead the networks into a new era. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him every step of the way.”

Gedmin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the IBAB in 2023, where he served before becoming MBN’s Acting President and CEO earlier this year. He was Interim President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from July to December 2023, and previously served as RFE/RL’s President and CEO for four years.

Gedmin was co-founder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose, and former president/CEO of the London-based Legatum Institute. Prior to leading RFE/RL, he served as president and CEO of the Aspen Institute in Berlin, was a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and was Executive Director of the New Atlantic Initiative.

Gedmin has authored and edited several books about German and European security, and co-executive produced two major documentaries for PBS.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on several advisory boards, including the Institute for State Effectiveness, the Justice for Journalists Foundation, the Tocqueville Conversations, and the Institute for Current World Affairs. Together with former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Norm Eisen, Gedmin is co-chair of the Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He is currently a Research Council Member at the National Endowment for Democracy, senior fellow at Georgetown University and at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Gedmin earned his M.A. in German Area Studies from American University. He received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University in German Area Studies and Linguistics.

[Source: IBAB press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN focus in October: The Sound of Vietnam – Dramatizing 50 years of friendship

1 October 2024

NHK WORLD-JAPAN focus in October: The Sound of Vietnam – Dramatizing 50 years of friendship

The Sound of Vietnam – dramatizing 50 years of friendship

The Sound of Vietnam Ep.1 Oct 5 Sat. Ep.2 Oct 12 Sat. Ep.3 Oct 19 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) While the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra faces a threat to its survival, a Japanese conductor is chosen to save it! The story’s protagonist is a young Japanese conductor, Sakura Kazuo. Following a chance encounter, Kazuo is asked to rebuild the Vietnamese orchestra. With a strong belief to fulfill what he promised, he travels to the country and passionately gives guidance. However, he soon finds himself facing many difficulties.
Legendary Games Chronicle: Final Fantasy Oct 11 Fri. 2:30/7:30/13:30/19:30 (UTC) In this episode revealing the start of a famous Japanese game series, we journey into the origin of the legendary RPG Final Fantasy by meeting its creators.

U.S. Agency for Global Media awards lease securing VOA move to new Downtown D.C. headquarters

27 September 2024

U.S. Agency for Global Media awards lease securing VOA move to new Downtown D.C. headquarters

Today, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) awarded a new lease, cementing 1875 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW as its future headquarters and the home of Voice of America (VOA) – the oldest of the five broadcast entities the independent federal agency oversees. The agency’s move to a modern facility will save taxpayers more than $150 million over the course of its 15-year lease. The relocation will begin in the coming months and occur in phases over the next several years.

“Our move to 1875 Penn marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter that will reimagine USAGM for the future,” said USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett. “As one of the world’s biggest media organizations, our work remains critical – particularly in the face of censorship, malign influence and information manipulation at the hands of authoritarian regimes. Ensuring our continued ability to compete is the first and perhaps most vital step in winning the global information war. This move will dramatically enhance our technological capacity, and most importantly, improve our ability to reach audiences in regions without a free press. I am inspired by this incredible new era, and all that will be made possible because of it.”

USAGM and VOA’s move from the Wilbur J. Cohen Building will allow the agency to operate more efficiently and secure significant cost savings that can be reinvested in technology and infrastructure to expand its reach to key markets where malign influence and censorship pervade. Further, the move to a more efficient space echoes a broader push to reimagine federal workspaces across Washington, D.C.

The Cohen Building has been home to Voice of America and U.S. international public service broadcasting since 1954, and was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists as a National Historic Site for Journalism in 2022. Originally built for the Social Security Administration and listed among the District of Columbia’s Inventory of Historic Sites, the Cohen Building exemplifies the Stripped Classical and Egyptian Revival styles popular at the time of its inception. However, it was never optimized for a modern news organization. Even so, the Cohen Building has served as an international hub for trusted news and information for generations.

“While the Cohen Building is full of great memories, the new headquarters offers Voice of America the opportunity to modernize its operations and facilities so that we are better positioned to fulfill our vital mission in a world where authoritarian powers are spending billions to undermine the free press and disrupt access to truthful news,” said Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees five international broadcast entities, including the Voice of America, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, in addition to the Open Technology Fund and Frontline Media Fund, all of which seek to connect, inform and engage people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. Collectively, they provide trustworthy news and information to over 420 million people around the world weekly.

[Source: USAGM press release]